Thanks for the update

 

you are welcome.
Here is another update.
During oil pressure test I also changed the oil and sent samples to the Blackstone Labs for analysis.
I saw here someone has claimed it would be metal on metal contact.
So if it would be a case the analysis should show extremely elevated level of aluminum and iron, as our piston heads are made from aluminum and cylinders are cast-iron.

BUT nothing is shown in the report. The results for aluminum and iron are perfect or near perfect. Just want to remind you guys, I have had this knock since September 2017.
Which in my mind defeats the theory of metal on metal contact!!!

 

You're the man! I'm gonna show this to personal mechanic. So what do you think it is then?

 

Personally I do not care, already. I had this car for almost 8 years and now it goes to my 17-year old daughter.
If gasket fails I already found two shops around DC area who are ready to do the job for bout $1500, or less.

But to prove it's not low the oil pressure, somebody with RWD version needs to check oil pressure (or somebody skilled enough on AWD version).
At this point I tend to think it's not the low oil pressure and the failing gasket, but rather deposits on heads, valves, and the squish area. As I was saying earlier Exxon premium gas and fuel system/injectors cleaners are currently helping a lot.

 

thanks agin

 

Again I meant

 

92k miles here. 12 RWD 7AT, and just noticed this noise today. Doesn't seem like anyones found a fix for this other than just random flukes that make it go away?
Anyone else have any last chance bright ideas or is it time for me to just live with this noise as well?

 

Same issue, following..

 

Similar issue. To be honest I don't hear the noise (loud exhaust), but I am tuned on ecutek and I see the knock and timing being pulled. If I give it extra gas off the line it doesn't occur.
Had oil pressure tested - 12psi idle, 35psi at 2k rpm.
At this point I am looking at having my gaskets done.

Anyone else?

 

Having this issue as well and got a new flash from my tuner and he noticed the same thing that timing was being pulled. He sent me a new flash and that seems to have quieted down the noise and made it less frequent.
Don't really think this issue is related to gaskets otherwise all the hundreds of posts about that typical failure would've reported this same thing more than likely.
I would talk to your tuner.

 

That was the first thing I did - we tried pulling timing a little, a lot, tried the stock tune even. It always does this weird afr wave when it knocks, and tuner says it is something mechanical

 

Hmm then again you said you aren't sure if you're hearing this noise specifically but that your oil pressure is low and you see the knocking.
My exhaust is quite loud as well but with windows down I can definitely hear it when it acts up, if you can drive with your hood open in a parking lot and have you or someone listen that would confirm what noise it is, as thats what I did.
If it really is this noise and at this point its mechanical thats really saddening.
Maybe could be just the chain tensioner?
Let us know if you're ever able to get it fixed but it does seem as though some people just lived with it for quite sometime

 

Hey guys, I registered just to reply to this post - helped me out a lot. I have the same exact noise as the OP in the youtube vid on post #76. The car was making the clanging noises and was down on power. No check engine light, no nothing. I finally checked the oil pressure yesterday because of this thread and I had 8 PSI at hot idle!
So I stopped driving it and ordered the parts.... the prior owner was not too good about oil changes, and there was some sludge buildup. I used the Amsoil engine flush to clean it out recently, and while it did work, I think it may have also "cleaned out" the paper gasket. Or coincidence.. either way, has to get fixed.

Minimum service oil pressure at hot idle is 14PSI.. in reality you should see ~25 PSI. If you're at 12PSI, there's no way your timing solenoids are going to work correctly (not to mention everything else is getting starved).

I'm looking at doing this next weekend..I'll post some pics of what they looked like. I've built enough motors where I'm not worried about doing this myself, but I understand if people are resisting the bad gasket diagnosis if this means paying a few grand to have someone fix it.

I'm posting this for two reasons:
- to thank you guys for pointing me in the right direction
- to encourage people to check their oil pressure if they have these noises. I was pretty damn surprised that the only symptom was some clanging noise that sounds like something loose in the suspension when in reality there's a huge oil leak with no warning.

Good luck!

Roger
'08 G37S coupe

 

Guys, I got it done this weekend. The diagnosis is confirmed...
New gasket is in, oil pressure is back, and no more clanging noises on taking off from a stop.

This did take me all weekend, and as you can imagine it's not a beginner DIY job, but if you're comfortable setting timing and know how to get a crank pulley off that's torqued to 400 ft/lbs, you can follow the youtube vids and get it done. Saved $4k

 

Awesome job, man! You basically has cleared out several year confusion of the entire community by doing it.. thank you for that!
I also almost grow a pair to start doing the job myself, but found a local shop which is doing the gasket for little more than a thousand and they ve been doing it for long time.
Did you replace the chain, water pump altogether or just gaskets?